Lokho Okushiwo Uthando LukaNkulunkulu
“Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu yilokhu ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe.”—1 JOHANE 5:3.
1. Kufanele silubonise kanjani uthando ngoNkulunkulu, futhi uyoba yini umphumela?
NGOKUQONDENE nesibopho abantu abanaso sokukhulekela uNkulunkulu, uJesu wathi: “Woyithanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho, nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.” (Mathewu 22:37) Kufanele silubonise kanjani loluthando? IBhayibheli liyaphendula: “Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu yilokhu ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe.” (1 Johane 5:3) Kuba namuphi umphumela omuhle kulabo abakwenzayo? UJohane wathi: “Ohlala othandweni uhlala kuNkulunkulu.”—1 Johane 4:16b.
2. Ubani kuphela okufanele amukele ukukhulekela kwethu?
2 Uma simthanda uNkulunkulu, ngeke sikhulekele noma yisiphi isidalwa, esiphilayo noma esifile, kodwa siyokhulekela uNkulunkulu kuphela. (Luka 4:7, 8) Umphostoli uPetru, ngisho nengelosi, benqaba ukukhulekelwa ngabantu. (IzEnzo 10:25, 26; IsAmbulo 22:8, 9) Futhi, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi unina, uMariya, akufanele anikezwe noma yiluphi udumo lokumkhulekela, ngoba okunjalo okukaNkulunkulu kuphela. (Luka 11:27, 28; Johane 2:3, 4; IsAmbulo 4:11) Ukukhulekela komuntu enye into engafanele kuyophumela ekuphikisaneni nemiyalo kaNkulunkulu, ngoba “akakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili.”—Mathewu 6:24.
Ukusetshenziswa Kwesiphambano Enkolweni
3. ELobukholwa likubheka kanjani ukusetshenziswa kwesiphambano?
3 Kunezinye futhi izinto ezingaphili okungathi uma zihlonishwa ziholele ekuphuleni imiyalo kaNkulunkulu. Phakathi kwezivelele kakhulu isiphambano. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka siye sasetshenziswa abantu kweLobukholwa njengengxenye yokukhulekela kwabo. INew Encyclopædia Britannica ibiza isiphambano ngokuthi “uphawu oluyinhloko lwenkolo yobuKristu.” Ecaleni lasenkantolo eGrisi, iSonto LamaGreki LobuOrthodox lagomela ngisho nokugomela ngokuthi labo abasenqabayo ‘iSiphambano Esingcwele’ abawona amaKristu. Kodwa ingabe isiphambano ngempela siwuphawu lobuKristu? Savelaphi?
4, 5. (a) Isichazamazwi sithini ngegama elithi stau·rosʹ, elihunyushwa ngokuthi “isiphambano” kwamanye amaBhayibheli esiZulu? (b) Kwavelaphi ukusetshenziswa kwesiphambano?
4 Ithuluzi uJesu afa ngalo liphawulwe ezindimeni zeBhayibheli, ezinjengoMathewu 27:32 no-40. Lapho igama lesiGreki elithi stau·rosʹ lihunyushwe ngokuthi “isiphambano” emaBhayibhelini esiZulu. Kodwa elithi stau·rosʹ lalisho ukuthini ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka lapho kubhalwa imiBhalo YesiGreki? IAn Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, kaW. E. Vine, ithi: “Elithi stauros . . . ngokuyinhloko, lisho isigxobo noma ugodo oluqondile. Izelelesi zazibethelwa ogodweni olunjalo ukuze zibulawe. Kokubili lelibizo [stau·rosʹ] nesenzo esithi stauroō, okungamagama asho ukubophela esigxotsheni noma ogodweni, kwasekuqaleni kufanele ahlukaniswe nesimo sesiphambano sesonto esinezingodo ezimbili. Isimo sesiphambano sesonto saqala eKhalediya lasendulo, futhi sasisetshenziswa njengophawu lukankulunkulu uTamuzi (luyisimo sikaTau ongaqondakali, owuhlamvu lokuqala lwegama lakhe) kulelozwe nasemazweni angomakhelwane, kuhlanganise neGibithe.”
5 UVine uyaqhubeka uthi: “Phakathi nekhulu leminyaka lesithathu A.D. amasonto ayesehlubukile ezimfundisweni ezithile zokholo lobuKristu, noma esezisontile. Ukuze kwandiswe isithunzi sesimiso samasonto ayizihlubuki amaqaba amukelwa emasontweni ngaphandle kokuzalwa kabusha ngokholo, futhi avunyelwa ikakhulukazi ukuba agcine izimpawu nemifanekiso yawo yobuqaba. Ngakho, uTau noma uhlamvu uT, lusesimweni salo esivame kakhulu, umugqa ovundlile wehlisiwe, lwamukelwa ukuba lumelele isiphambano sikaKristu.”
6, 7. (a) Livelaphi igama elithi “cross” (isiphambano), futhi kungani ukusetshenziswa kwalo kungafanele emaBhayibhelini esiZulu? (b) Ukusebenzisa kweBhayibheli igama elithi xyʹlon kukuqinisa kanjani ukuthi istau·rosʹ kwakuwugodo oluqondile?
6 Ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Isiphambano Nokubethelwa,” iCompanion Bible iyaphawula: “Igama lethu lesiNgisi ‘cross’ [isiphambano] liwukuhunyushwa kwelesiLatin elithi crux; kodwa elesiGreki elithi stauros alisho icrux njengoba nje igama elithi ‘induku’ lingasho ‘udondolo.’ UHomer usebenzisa igama elithi stauros elisho isigxobo noma ugodo oluvamile, noma ukhuni olulodwa. Futhi lena incazelo nokusetshenziswa kwaleligama kuyo yonke imibhalo yesiGreki. Alilokothi lisho izinkuni ezimbili ezibekwe zaphanjaniswa. . . . Akukho lutho esiGrekini seT[estamente] E[lisha] olusikisela ngisho nokusikisela izinkuni ezimbili.”
7 Elinye igama lesiGreki elithi, xyʹlon, lisetshenziswa eBhayibhelini ukuze libhekisele kulokho uJesu afela kukho. Leligama lisiza ekuboniseni ukuthi istau·rosʹ kwakuwugodo oluqondile olungenalo oluvundlile. Njengoba iCompanion Bible isho: “Leligama elithi [xyʹlon] . . . ngokuvamile lisho ugodo olufile, noma ukhuni, lokubasa noma lwanoma iyiphi enye injongo. . . . Njengoba leligama elishiwo kamuva elithi [xyʹlon] lisetshenziswa esikhundleni sikastauros wasekuqaleni, kusibonisa ukuthi incazelo yawo ifana nsé. Yingakho kusetshenziswa igama elithi [xyʹlon] . . . ngokuqondene nendlela yokufa kweNkosi yethu, futhi lahunyushwa ngokuthi ‘umuthi’ kuzEnzo 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Galathiya 3:13; 1 Petru 2:24.”
8. Ezinye izincwadi zithini ngesiphambano nangemvelaphi yaso?
8 IDictionnaire Encyclopédique Universel (Encyclopedic Universal Dictionary) yesiFrench ithi: “Isikhathi eside besikholelwa ukuthi isiphambano, esicatshangelwa njengophawu lwenkolo, singesamaKristu ngokuqondile. Lokhu akunjalo.” Incwadi ethi Dual Heritage—The Bible and the British Museum ithi: “Kungase kwethuse ukwazi ukuthi akukho-gama elithi ‘isiphambano’ esiGrekini seTestamente Elisha. Igama elihunyushwa ngokuthi ‘isiphambano’ ngaso sonke isikhathi leligama lesiGreki [stau·rosʹ] lisho ‘ugodo’ noma ‘isigxobo esiqondile.’ Ekuqaleni isiphambano sasingelona uphawu lwamaKristu; sivela eGibithe nakuConstantine.” INew Catholic Encyclopedia ithi: “Ukufanekiswa kokufa kukaKristu okuyisihlengo eGolgotha akuveli ebucikweni bokwakha imifanekiso kwasemakhulwini eminyaka obuKristu okuqala. AmaKristu okuqala, ethonywe ukwenqabela kweTestamente Elidala izithombe ezibaziwe, ayamanqikanqika ngisho nokufanekisa ithuluzi lokufa kweNkosi. . . . Isiphambano saqala ukufanekiswa esikhathini sikaConstantine.”
Isiphambano SikaConstantine
9. UMbusi uConstantine uhlangene kanjani nesiphambano?
9 UConstantine wayengumbusi waseRoma owabiza uMkhandlu waseNicaea ngo-325 C.E. futhi wawuthonya ukuba wamukele imfundiso engekho ngokombhalo yokuthi uKristu wayelingana noNkulunkulu. Lokhu wakwenza ukuze aqinise umbuso wakhe wamaqaba namaKristu ayizihlubuki. Ngaye iNew Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Ngosuku olwandulela ukunqoba kukaConstantine uMaxentius ngo-312, wabona umbono ‘wesibonakaliso sasezulwini’ sesiphambano, akholelwa ukuthi sasiyisiqinisekiso saphezulu sokunqoba kwakhe.” Ithi futhi ngemva kwalokho uConstantine waqhubekisela phambili ukuhlonishwa kwesiphambano.
10. Kungani kungenangqondo noma kungekho ngokomBhalo ukukholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu noma uKristu wanikeza uConstantine “isibonakaliso” esihilela esiphambano?
10 Nokho, ingabe uNkulunkulu wayenganikeza isibonakaliso kumholi oyiqaba owayengayenzi intando kaNkulunkulu, futhi-ke amnike uphawu lobuqaba? UJesu wabasola abantu bakubo ngokufuna izibonakaliso. (Mathewu 12:38-40) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lombusi oyiqaba wayechitha igazi elingenacala ngezikhali zobulwane efuna ukuphakama ngakwezombangazwe, futhi ebuqilini bezombangazwe, wahlela ukubulawa kwezihlobo zakhe nabangane. Ngokuphambene, uJesu wathi: “Umbuso wami awusiwo owalelizwe. Uma umbuso wami ubungowalelizwe, izikhonzi zami zaziyakulwa.” (Johane 18:36) Yingakho ayala uPetru: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo, ngokuba bonke abaphatha inkemba bayakubhubha ngenkemba.”—Mathewu 26:52.
11. Yini eyashukumisela uConstantine ukuba athuthukise ukusetshenziswa kwesiphambano?
11 Incwadi ethi Strange Survivals ithi ngoConstantine nangesiphambano sakhe: “Asinakungabaza ukuthi kwakunecebo ekuziphatheni kwakhe; umfanekiso awumisa wanelisa amaKristu asebuthweni lakhe ngasohlangothini olulodwa, namaGaul [angamaqaba] ngakolunye. . . . KumaGaul wawuwuphawu lomusa kankulunkulu wabo oyinkanyiso,” unkulunkulu welanga ayemkhulekela. Cha, ‘isibonakaliso sasezulwini,’ sikaConstantine sasingahlangene noNkulunkulu noma noKristu kodwa sicwile ebuqabeni.
Ingabe Kumelwe Sihloniphe Ithuluzi Lokufa?
12, 13. Kungaziphi ezinye izizathu isiphambano kungafanele sihlonishwe?
12 Ngisho noma singebunake ubufakazi futhi sithathe ngokuthi uJesu wabulawelwa esiphambanweni, ingabe kufanele sihlonishwe? Cha, ngoba uJesu wabulawa njengeselelesi, njengamadoda ayebethelwe eceleni kwakhe, futhi indlela yokufa kwakhe yammelela ngendlela embi kakhulu. AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayengeke abheke ithuluzi lokubulawa kwakhe njengelingcwele. Ukulihlonipha kwakungasho ukukhazimulisa isenzo esingalungile esenzelwa kulo, ukubulawa kukaJesu.
13 Uma umngane wakho omthanda kakhulu ebengabulawa ngamacala amanga, ubungawenza yini umfanekiso walelothuluzi lokubulala (ake sithi intambo yokulengisa noma isihlalo sikagesi noma isibhamu seqembu labadubuli) bese uwuqabula lowomfanekiso, ukhanyise amakhandlela phambi kwawo, noma uwulengise emqaleni njengomhlobiso ongcwele? Lokho akunakwenzeka. Ngakho, kunjalo nangokuhlonishwa kwesiphambano. Iqiniso lokuthi isiphambano savela ebuqabeni limane lenze indaba ibe yimbi kakhulu.
14. Yisiphi isiphetho okumelwe sisifinyelele ngokuqondene nesiphambano, ngokucabangela ubufakazi bezincwadi zezwe ngobeBhayibheli?
14 Ukuhlonishwa kwesiphambano akukhona okobuKristu. Akubonisi uthando ngoNkulunkulu noma ngoKristu kodwa kuhleka usulu lokho abakumelele. Kwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu omelene nokukhonza izithombe. Kudumisa umfanekiso wobuqaba ozenza owobuKristu. (Eksodusi 20:4, 5; IHubo 115:4-8; 1 Korinte 10:14) Ukucabangela umfanekiso wobuqaba njengongcwele kwephula umyalo kaNkulunkulu: “Maningaboshelwa ejokeni linye nabangakholwayo, ngokuba kunakuhlanganyela kuni ukulunga nokungalungi na? . . . Ningathinti okungcolileyo.”—2 Korinte 6:14, 17.
Ukubambelela EZwini Eliphefumlelwe
15. Kungani kufanele siwenqabe amasiko aphikisana neZwi likaNkulunkulu?
15 Amasonto athi imikhuba enjengokuhlonipha isiphambano iyingxenye ‘yesiko elingcwele.’ Kodwa lapho lelosiko liphikisana neZwi likaNkulunkulu, labo abathanda uNkulunkulu bayalenqaba isiko. Lokho esikudingayo ngempela ukuze sikhulekele uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso kuhlanganisiwe kakade eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Njengoba uPawulu abhalela uThimothewu: “Kusukela ebuntwaneni wazi imibhalo engcwele enamandla okukuhlakaniphisa, kube-yinsindiso ngokukholwa kuKristu Jesu. Yonke imibhalo iphefumlelwe nguNkulunkulu ilungele ukufundisa, nokusola, nokuqondisa, nokuyala ekulungeni, ukuze umuntu kaNkulunkulu aphelele, apheleliselwe yonke imisebenzi emihle.” (2 Thimothewu 3:15-17) Akukho lapho iBhayibheli lisho khona ukuthi amasiko aphikisana neZwi likaNkulunkulu awanakulahlwa ukuze umuntu asindiswe.
16. Yini uJesu ayisho kubaholi benkolo bamaJuda ngokuqondene namasiko abo?
16 Ukuphikisana phakathi kwemiBhalo namasiko abantu akukusha. Phakathi nenkathi esukela ekupheleni kwemiBhalo YesiHeberu ephefumlelwe kuya ekufikeni kukaJesu, abaholi benkolo bamaJuda banezela amasiko amaningi adluliselwa ngomlomo, kamuva abawalondoloza ngokuwabhala okungaphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu. Lawomasiko ayevame ukuphikisana nemiBhalo. Ngakho uJesu watshela abaholi benkolo: “Nani, yini ukuba neqe umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yesiko lenu na? . . . Nilenzé laba yize izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesiko lenu.” Walisebenzisa kubo iZwi likaNkulunkulu lapho ethi: “Bangikhonza ngeze befundisa izimfundiso eziyimiyalo yabantu.” (Mathewu 15:1-6, 9) Ezimfundisweni zakhe uJesu akazange acaphune emasikweni anjalo. Wayedonsela ukunakekela eZwini likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe neliphefumlelwe.—Mathewu 4:4-10; Marku 12:10; Luka 10:26.
17. Kungani singathembela eBhayibhelini njengensika eqinile yethemba lethu?
17 Ukulondolozwa ‘kwezwi lokuphila’ uNkulunkulu akakushiyanga ezandleni ezingalondekile zabathandi bamasiko benkolo. (Filipi 2:16) Esikhundleni salokho, ngomoya wakhe ongcwele onamandla, waphefumlela ukulotshwa kweBhayibheli ukuze “ngenduduzo yemiBhalo sibe nethemba.” (Roma 15:4) Ukuthi iBhayibheli aliphelele nokuthi sidinga ukuthembela nasekucabangeni okuguquguqukayo kwabantu abangaphelele, abangaphefumlelwe kuwukuphika amandla kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqinisekile, umninimandla onke, uMdali osabekayo wendawo yonke wayengayibhala lencwadi! Futhi lokhu wakwenza ukuze sibe nensika eqinile yethemba lethu futhi singadingi ukuthembela emasikweni abantu aholela abantu ekuphuleni imiyalo kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: ‘Ningeqisi kokulotshiweyo.’ (1 Korinte 4:6) Laba abamthanda ngempela uNkulunkulu bayowugcina lowomyalo.—Bheka futhi IzAga 30:5, 6.
“Sigcine Imiyalo Yakhe”
18. Uma simthanda ngempela uNkulunkulu, yimuphi umyalo okumelwe siwulalele?
18 “Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu yilokhu ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe,” kusho eyoku-1 Johane 5:3. Lapho abaholi benkolo belulaza lemiyalo, noma bengayinaki, noma befaka esikhundleni sayo amasiko abantu ayiphikisayo, khona-ke baholela abalandeli babo ekuphikisaneni nentando kaNkulunkulu. Njengesibonelo, cabangela isimiso esiyisisekelo sobuKristu: uthando. Lwaluyingxenye ebalulekile yokufundisa kukaJesu. Wathi: “Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.”—Mathewu 22:39.
19. (a) Kubaluleke kangakanani ngamaKristu eqiniso ukuba athandane? (b) “Umyalo omusha” owanikezwa uJesu ngokuqondene nothando uhluka ngayiphi indlela komdala?
19 Lubaluleke kangakanani loluthando lukamakhelwane? UJesu wafundisa ukuthi amaKristu eqiniso ayeyobonakala ngothando analo phakathi kwawo. Wathi: “Ngininika umyalo omusha wokuba nithandane; njengalokhu nginithandile, nani nithandane. Ngalokho bonke bayakukwazi ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma nithandana.” (Johane 13:34, 35) Yiqiniso, uMthetho owanikezwa uIsrayeli wasendulo wahlanganisa nomyalo ‘wokuthanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.’ (Levitikusi 19:18) Kodwa okwakukusha ngomyalo kaJesu kwakungamazwi akhe okuthi, “njengalokho nginithandile.” Lokhu kwanikeza uthando lobuKristu amandla engeziwe, ngoba umKristu kumelwe azimisele ukubeka phansi ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yakholwa nabo, njengoba nje uJesu enza.
20. Umlando walelikhulu leminyaka ukhomba obani njengabalalela umyalo wokuba “nithandane”?
20 Kanjalo, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zeqiniso namuhla zingaphawuleka ngesibopho sothando esingenakwephulwa, esihlanganisayo ngesilinganiso sezizwe zonke. Obani esikhathini sethu ababonisa ukuwuthobela okunjalo umyalo kaNkulunkulu endabeni yothando? Obani abaye bashushiswa, baboshwa, baphonswa emakamu okuhlushwa, noma babulawa ngenxa yokuba bengenakuthatha izikhali balwe nabakholwa nabo—ngisho nabangakholwa—bezinye izizwe? Umlando walelikhulu leminyaka uphendula ngokuthi: oFakazi BakaJehova kuphela.
21. Yimuphi umlando amasonto eLobukholwa awenzile ngokuqondene nomyalo wokuthanda abanye abakholwa kanye nabo?
21 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izinkolo zeLobukholwa njalo ziye zayephula imithetho kaNkulunkulu ephathelene nothando. Kuzo zonke izimpi zalelikhulu leminyaka, abefundisi bamasonto eLobukholwa baye baholela abantu babo ukuba balwe ezinkundleni zempi nokuba babulalane ngezigidi. AmaProthestani abulala amaProthestani akubo, amaKatolika abulala amaKatolika akubo, nokho bonke babethi bangamaKristu. Kodwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Uma umuntu esho ukuthi: Ngiyamthanda uNkulunkulu, kepha ezonda umzalwane wakhe, ungumqambimanga; ngokuba ongathandi umzalwane wakhe ambonileyo angemthande uNkulunkulu angambonanga. Yebo, lomyalo sinawo, uvela kuNkulunkulu, wokuthi othanda uNkulunkulu makathande nomzalwane wakhe.”—1 Johane 4:20, 21.
22. Ngokwencazelo ekweyoku-1 Johane 3:10-12, amasonto eLobukholwa angabantwana bakabani, futhi ngani?
22 IZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi lithi: “Ngalokho kubonakala abantwana bakaNkulunkulu nabantwana bakaSathane; lowo ongenzi ukulunga akasiye okaNkulunkulu, naye ongamthandi umzalwane wakhe. . . . Sithandane, kungabi-njengoKayini owaba-ngowomubi, wabulala umfowabo.” (1 Johane 3:10-12) Amasonto eLobukholwa azisholo ukuthi angabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, kodwa awanakuba yibo, ngoba ayephula kakhulu imiyalo kaNkulunkulu yothando futhi ‘abulala abafowabo.’ Angaba ‘abantwana bomubi’ kuphela. Ngakho, iZwi likaNkulunkulu linxusa abaqotho ezinkolweni ezinjalo: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, ukuze ningahlanganyeli nalo izono zalo, nokuba ningamukeli okwezinhlupho zalo.” (IsAmbulo 18:4) Ngokushesha uNkulunkulu uzokhipha izahlulelo zakhe kuzo zonke izinkolo zamanga. Labo abanamathela kuzo bayobhujiswa kanye nazo. (IsAmbulo 17:16) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube-phakade.”—1 Johane 2:17.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani
◻ Kungani igama lesiNgisi elithi “isiphambano” liwukuhunyushwa kabi kwegama lesiGreki elithi stau·rosʹ?
◻ Kwavelaphi ukuhlonishwa kwesiphambano, futhi kungani kufanele sikulahle?
◻ Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa uJesu ngokuqondene namasiko enkolo?
◻ Ibuphi ubufakazi obubonakalisa labo abalalela imiyalo ephathelene nothando lobuzalwane?
[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 25]
IMVELAPHI YESIPHAMBANO
Esikhathini eside ngaphambi kwenkathi yobuKristu, izimo zesiphambano zazisetshenziswa cishe kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba njengezimpawu zenkolo
ICrux Ansata yayisetshenziswa amaGibithe asendulo njengophawu lokuphila kwesikhathi esizayo
ICrux Quadrata yayifanekisela izingxenye ezine okukholelwa ukuthi zonke izinto zadalwa ngazo
ICrux Gammata kucatshangelwa ukuthi yayiwuphawu lomlilo, noma ilanga, ngakho iwuphawu lokuphila
Isiphambano sesiLatin esithandwayo kweLobukholwa
Lesiphambano siwukulumbaniswa kwezinhlamvu ezimbili zokuqala zesiGreki egameni elithi “Kristu”
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
UKristu wafela esigxotsheni esiqondile, hhayi esiphambanweni
[Izithombe ekhasini 26, 27]
“Bavuma ukuthi bayamazi uNkulunkulu, kepha bayamphika ngemisebenzi yabo.”—Thithu 1:16